Fruit-picker.



NITE STATES ATnNT JOHN W. GILBREATH, OF MIAMI, INDIAN TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO SOLOMON' B. DOBSON, OF SAME PLACE.

FRU lT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,189, dated April 2, 1901.

Application filed April 10, 1900. Serial No. 12,369. (No model` To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GILBREATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Peoria, Indian Territory, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in fruit-pickers, and has for its 1o object to provide a fruit-picker in which the fruit can be plucked from the tree and conveyed to the ground or to a receptacle without lowering the picker or bruising the fruit.

With this end in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may underzo stand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail,referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- 2 5 Figure l is an elevation of my fruit-picker, showing the -jaws open about to grasp the fruit. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section showing the jaws closed, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a fragment of the stationary 3o jaw.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents a stationary jaw having a cross-piece B at the top, the edge C of which is sharpened and forms acutting edge.

D is a movable jaw having a cross-piece E at the top, the edge F being another cutting edge. These two jaws are pivoted together by the crossrod G, the jaw A being made stationary with thiscross-rod by means of the 4o collar H and the set-screw I. This crossrod Grafter passing through the jaws is bent backward to a point midway between the two sides of thejaws and is there turned downward and secured in the handle J. This handle J is made any suitable length or can be made adjustable, so that the jaws can be brought within reach of the fruit upon any part of the tree.

Upon the outside of the movable jaw D is o secured a spring L. This spring L is coiled about the cross-rod or pivot G, and the other end M of this spring is secured behind the return portion of the cross-rod G. As will be seen, the action of this spring will also tend to hold the movable jaw D closed over the stationary jaw A.

Secured to any convenient point upon themovable jaw D is a rod o r, what is more preferable, a flexible cord or chain K. This connection K passes through suitable guides in 6o the handle and extends down to the lower end of said handle. The purpose of this connection K is that while grasping the handle .I with one hand the connection K can be pulled with the other, thus opening the jaws, and when the jaws thus opened are brought within reach of the fruit, so that the said fruit enters between the' jaws, then the connection K is released, when the spring will close the jaw D, thus severing the fruit from the tree. 7o The movable jaw can be covered across the back with the flexible netting N.

In fruit-pickers now in use the fruit after being severed from the tree either falls to the ground, and is thereby liable to be bruised or mutilated, or is held in a bag or receptacle located at a point near the pickers. In the latter case the bag or receptacle is necessarily small and can hold but a small quantity of fruit, for the reason that it would become 8o too heavy to manipulate properly, so that it has to be frequently lowered and emptied, which consumes 'considerable time and energy. To obviate both of these difficulties, I provide a duct O, which is secured to the stationary jaw A and extends to a point near the ground. The fruit after being severed from the tree naturally falls within this duct and passes down the same and is deposited on the ground or in a receptacle provided for 9o the purpose. This duct O is preferably made of lieXible material, so that it will hug the fruit passing therethrough, and thus retard its movement to such an extent that the fruit in passing therefrom will not be bruised or mutilated by coming in contact with the ground or the contents of the receptacle.

The advantages of my invention consist chieiiy in this duct O and in the simplicity of construction of the picker in general.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and useful s- IOO back of the return portion of the cross-rod, a netting secured to the stationary jaw and a flexible connection secured to the movable jaw as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. GILBREATH.

Witnesses:

D. W. COOTER, L. W. MORRISON. 

